New Tanglewood four-building complex is 'transformative'

Jody Feinberg The Patriot Ledger

Wednesday

Sep 5, 2018 at 4:15 PMSep 5, 2018 at 5:40 PM

Next to a massive oak tree on the Tanglewood grounds, a major construction project is underway that will turn the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra into a year-round destination and bring its programs to people throughout the world.

“This is a transformative moment for Tanglewood,” said managing director Mark Volpe, as he led a press tour of the complex of four buildings that will become the Center for Music and Learning and the site for the Tanglewood Learning Institute. “For the first time in its 81-year history, Tanglewood will have four-season buildings that will be available throughout the year. It will introduce an entirely new element of programs.”

Connected by a curving glass enclosed walkway, the glass and wood buildings will provide performance and rehearsal space for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, visiting artists, and fellows of the Tanglewood Music Center, the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s training program for aspiring professional musicians. The complex features a large performance hall, two rehearsal studios and a dining area with indoor and outdoor seating for up to 300 people. As part of the Tanglewood Learning Institute, musicians, artists, academics and others will offer public programs on site, as well as through online learning.

In some ways, Tanglewood is taking a lesson from professional sports coverage, which offers audiences hours of pre- and post-game programming, Volpe said. To enhance their experiences at Boston Symphony and Tanglewood Music Center concerts, audiences will have the opportunity on four weekends next summer to attend master classes, open rehearsals, demonstrations, panel discussions, talks and films related to music on the programs. Details about these weekends will be released in early 2019.

Designed by William Rawn Associates, Architects, who also designed Ozawa Hall, which opened in 1994, the complex will enhance Tanglewood's arboretum-like natural beauty with the planting of an additional 125 trees and 300 shrubs, as well as the creation of a glass-enclosed garden that will provide color throughout the year. Set near Ozawa Hall on Tanglewood's 524 acres, the project includes a new gateway and reconfiguration of the entrance from the parking area.

“The buildings are situated around a fantastic oak tree that is one of the trees so critical to the ethos of Tanglewood,” said Volpe, adding that several million dollars will be spent on landscaping. “Everything will connect to nature. The gestalt of music and nature is very much part of Tanglewood.”

It also is expected to earn Lead Gold certification for its low environmental impact.

“That is pretty impressive because part of our challenge is people have to drive here and we get penalized for that in the (certification) calculation,” said Volpe, pointing out that about 350,000 people visit each summer. “We’ve tried to make it as green as we could, and solar panels will generate enough so electricity so we won’t be paying electrical bills.”

The performance and rehearsal spaces will have state of the art wiring with cameras for real and delayed time distance learning, and the building will have dressing and storage rooms, as well as a media room. The rehearsal studios are large enough so that visitors can watch the musicians. And the biggest space will have a stage larger than the one in Ozawa Hall backed by a glass wall that can be opened and closed and will seat 250 people for a lunch or dinner. The space will be available for rent from the fall through the spring for performances, weddings and other events, starting in the fall of 2019. Staff also has been working with officials and leaders from Berkshires area schools and community groups about ways to provide opportunities for area residents.

“The room has a many possible uses as your imagination can take you,” Volpe said. “We get calls virtually every day looking for a wedding venue and we can’t accommodate that in the summer. These are not cheap buildings to operate, so we need to generate revenue, and we also want to be a good civic resource in the off season.”

The $34 million 24,000 square foot project is funded by the Tanglewood Forever fundraising campaign, which has raised more than $54 million of its $64 million goal. The Tanglewood Learning Institute will be directed by newly hired Sue Elliott, former director of education at the Seattle Opera and creator of the world’s first professional online music teacher education program at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.

“With these buildings we have possibilities we didn’t have before,” Volpe said. “By definition, this is going to be a learning experience. The first year is not going to be perfect, yet it’s going to be very good. Every year, we may do things differently because there are all sorts of interesting angles we can bring in.”

Reach Jody Feinberg at jfeinberg@patriotledger.com. Follow her on Twitter@JodyF_Ledger.